Governor Lynch Requests Disaster Declaration For Belknap, Coos and Grafton Counties
- New Declaration Would Cover Damage from Storms that Occurred July 24 - Aug.14

FROM THE OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR

August 24, 2008

Contact: Communications Director
Office of the Governor
603-271-2121


CONCORD - Gov. John Lynch today asked President Bush to declare that New Hampshire suffered a major disaster as a result of severe weather and flooding.

“Damage assessments conducted by FEMA found that several communities suffered major and costly damage due to flooding caused by severe weather,” Gov. Lynch said. “I am asking the President to issue a disaster declaration to provide financial assistance to communities, which will help them rebuild infrastructure damaged by recent storms and flooding.”

Gov. Lynch is requesting that the president declare a disaster in Belknap, Coos and Grafton counties for storm damage that occurred between July 24 and August 14.

Public assistance offered through FEMA helps the state and communities cover emergency operations, debris removal and repair costs. Assistance will cover some, but not usually all costs of the damage.

The State continues with work with communities and individuals impacted by severe weather.

People with tornado or flood-related questions or concerns can call the states information line at 1-888-330-6764.

Gov. Lynch also encourages citizens to consider contributing to the State of New Hampshire Disaster Relief Fund, which will help families impacted by the recent storms.

Donations to the relief fund can be made online at http://www.nh.gov, or by sending a check made out to:

New Hampshire Disaster Relief Fund
State of New Hampshire, Disaster Relief
25 Capitol Street, Room 121
Concord, NH 03301



A copy of Gov. Lynch’s letter to the President is attached.

August 21, 2008





The President
The White House
Washington, DC 20500



Through: R. David Paulison, FEMA Administrator
Arthur Cleaves, Regional Director
FEMA, Region I
99 High Street
Boston, MA 02110-2132



Dear Mr. President:



Under the provisions of Section 401 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, 42 U.S.C. §§ 5121-5206 (Stafford Act), and implemented by 44 CFR § 206.36, I respectfully request that you declare a major disaster for the State of New Hampshire. This request covers three New Hampshire counties: Belknap, Coos, and Grafton. The event caused extensive damage during the period beginning July 24 through August 14, 2008.

On July 24, 2008 and continuing through August 14th, severe winds and heavy rains caused extensive damage to the public infrastructure in these counties. In response to the situation, I took appropriate action under State law and directed the execution of the State Emergency Operations Plan on July 24, 2008, in accordance with Section 401 of the Stafford Act. Additionally, I directed the State Emergency Operations Center to actively direct and coordinate the State’s emergency response and recovery to this event and remain open as necessary throughout the event period.

The flooding, flash flooding, and high winds caused widespread destruction to the community infrastructure in these three New Hampshire counties. This same system spawned a tornado on July 24th that damaged the community infrastructure and caused major damage and destroyed homes in eleven towns. The State of New Hampshire received a major disaster declaration (DR-NH-1782) for this tornado.

On August 8, 2008, I requested that FEMA conduct a preliminary damage assessment (PDA) of the affected areas. FEMA began its preliminary damage assessment for Public Assistance on Tuesday, August 12, 2008. The assessment clearly demonstrates that all communities affected, as well as the counties, greatly exceeded the threshold for assistance.

I have determined that this incident is of such severity and magnitude that effective response is beyond the capabilities of New Hampshire and the affected local governments and that supplemental Federal assistance is necessary. I am specifically requesting that Public Assistance be designated for Belknap, Coos, and Grafton counties. I am also requesting that the Hazard Mitigation Program be designated statewide. While we are not requesting a designation for Individual Assistance at this time, we respectfully reserve our right to request an additional designation for Individual Assistance at a later date, in the event that additional evidence should come forward supporting a supplemental request for additional assistance.

I request that you expedite the declaration of a major disaster in New Hampshire so that the above assistance programs will be available to meet the community needs in the affected areas.

The State of New Hampshire has an approved standard Hazard Mitigation Plan, dated September 2007. The Plan has identified high winds, flooding, and flash flooding as high risk hazards and has prioritized projects to lessen these hazards statewide. The State participates in the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) and the Pre-Disaster Mitigation (PDM) program. In addition, local Hazard Mitigation plans identify high winds, flooding, and flash flooding as severe hazards and also prioritize projects to minimize the effects of these hazards.

The following actions have already been taken at the State and local levels to alleviate the conditions of this disaster:

We have actively investigated the nature and severity of this disaster event. Meteorologist John Jensensius of the National Weather Service has confirmed that during the period from July 18th through August 16th, the weather in New England was influenced by a cold, upper atmospheric low pressure system that moved into the region and gradually strengthened during the period. The system caused the atmosphere to become unstable during the period and was the cause of numerous showers and thunderstorms. In mid to late July, as the colder air with this system moved in aloft, the system brought severe weather to much of the region with heavy rain, hail, damaging winds, and tornadoes. As the cold upper low pressure system strengthened and settled over the region in early August, winds aloft became weaker, and very heavy rainfall from slow moving thunderstorms caused flash flooding across the region.

Upon activation of the State’s Emergency Operations Plan, I instructed the Director of Homeland Security and Emergency Management to staff the State Emergency Operations Center as necessary on July 24, 2008. The Director activated Emergency Support Functions as necessary to respond to the flooding event. The Emergency Operations Center remained open on a 24-hour basis at different activation levels through August 12, 2008.

The State’s Dam Bureau Staff reported to the State Emergency Operations Center, ESF-5, Information & Planning. This was a 24-hour operation to provide information on dam conditions and river flows due to the high rain events predicted by the National Weather Service for New Hampshire during that timeframe. The President Page 3 August 21, 2008

Department of Transportation road crews have been removing debris and providing emergency repair to the road system to allow emergency vehicles access to the affected areas and have been providing critical technical support to local public works crews.

The American Red Cross and other volunteer agencies were activated on Thursday, July 24, 2008 and are providing assistance and sheltering to families throughout the affected regions as needed. I certify that for this major disaster, the State and local governments will assume all applicable non-Federal share of costs required by the Stafford Act.

In accordance with 44 CFR Section 206.208, the State of New Hampshire agrees it will, with respect to direct Federal assistance:

1) Provide without cost to the United States all lands, easements and rights-of-way necessary to accomplish the approved work;

2) Hold and save the United States free from damages due to the requested work, and shall indemnify the Federal Government against any claims arising from such work;

3) Provide reimbursement to FEMA for the non-Federal share of the cost of such work in accordance with the provisions of the FEMA-State Agreement; and

4) Assist the performing Federal agency in all support and local jurisdictional matters.

In addition, I anticipate the need for debris removal, which poses an immediate threat to lives, public health, and safety. Pursuant to Sections 403 and 407 of the Stafford Act, 42 U.S.C. §§ 5170b & 5173, the State agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the United States of America for any claims arising from the removal of debris or wreckage for this disaster. The State agrees that debris removal from public and private property will not occur until the landowner signs an unconditional authorization for the removal of debris.



I have designated Tammy Vaillancourt as the State Coordinating Officer for this request. She will work with the Federal Emergency Management Agency in damage assessments and may provide further information or justification on my behalf.

Sincerely,

John H. Lynch
Governor